The Football Association, Premier League and Football League have today published the review conducted by Richard Lewis, Executive Chairman of the Rugby Football League, into the role of Academies and Centres of Excellence in developing young players.

Titled "A Review of Young Player Development in Professional Football", the review was commissioned in October 2006 by the three football bodies to find a structure for how they could work together to produce outstanding young players in the future.

The specific areas for review included the quality of coaching, the games programme, the standard of young players, the role and funding of Football Academies and Centres of Excellence, and the monitoring and quality assurance of the activity.

Since then Lewis has consulted with The FA, all 92 Premier League and Football League clubs, PFA, Technical and Development Staffs Association (TDSA), Premier League Learning, League Football Education and other interested parties.

He said: "During the review I came across many examples of best practice and a strong desire for continuous improvement. My report seeks to build upon the good work that is taking place and to give the football authorities a framework on which to build.

"I was very pleased that at a recent meeting where I presented the report all three organisations supported the review overall and committed to implementing an action plan. I am confident the vast majority of the recommendations that I have made will be agreed by all parties and I believe the basis is there for real sustained progress in the development of young professional players."

His key recommendations are:

- that the dual system of Academies and Centres of Excellence should be retained
- the formation of a Youth Management Group (YMG) to oversee the development of young players, comprised of one representative from each of The FA, the Premier League and the Football League, with an independent chairman with a very strong football background agreed by the three bodies
- the raising of the overall English talent pool through better coaching rather than the imposition of quotas as a means to boosting numbers of home-grown players in English clubs
- that youth development grant aid provided by The FA, Premier League and Football Foundation to Football League clubs be agreed on a four-year reviewable basis, with funding linked to RPI and performance
- an emphasis on skills development and age-appropriate coaching for 5-11 year-olds, with more FA courses to be made available on a regional basis
- that dispensation periods for coaches to gain mandatory qualifications be abolished unless there is a combination of unique exceptional circumstances
- Academies and Centres of Excellence to develop a more flexible games programme
- the continuation of the loan system as method of providing meaningful competitive experience for young players
- consultation with clubs over the introduction of a domestic U21 league
- consultation with clubs over possible mandatory requirements allowing scouts to attend Academy and Centre of Excellence matches involving other clubs
- a review of the compensation payment rules to make them more transparent
- the establishment of an independent body to monitor clubs’ compliance with Young Player Development Rules, with quality assurance based on ISO standards
- Academy and Centre of Excellence licences should be reviewed annually against agreed Key Performance Indicators
- that clubs be given more contact time with players of school age
- updating and redrafting of the Young Player Development Rules, including more specific requirements on facilities

FA Chief Executive Brian Barwick said: "I would like to thank Richard for his excellent work on this review. Youth development is integral to the long-term health and success of the English game and it was important to bring in someone with sports experience but with an outside perspective.

"We will now take the summer to assess his recommendations in more detail. What is encouraging is that there is broad agreement between ourselves and the two leagues on the way forward."

Premier League Chief Executive Richard Scudamore added: "The Premier League fully supported this Review, as did our member Clubs. They are committed to raising standards in youth development and we see the Report as a start to this process.

"We will now take time to reflect on its findings before deciding the best way forward to ensure youth development is resourced and prioritised appropriately and effectively."

Andy Williamson, The Football League’s Chief Operating Officer, said: "This report will help define the way forward for Youth Development in professional football.

"Supporters at all levels of the game want to see their club developing their own playing talent and for Football League clubs it offers a framework that secures the future of their Youth schemes and enables them to continue identifying, training and educating the professional players of tomorrow."

To read the report in full, click here.